VIDEO: Fortune 500 firms field first fuel-free freight fetchers

What do Coca-Cola, Staples, Frito-Lay, AT&T, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) all have in common? We're not even going to make you work for this one: they all just took delivery of electric trucks from Smith Electric Vehicles US (SEVUS). The four Fortune 500 companies and two utilities took possession of all-electric additions to their respective fleets at a reflecting pool-side presentation in Washington D.C. Fittingly, a senator for the electric truck builder's home state of Missouri, Kit Bond, was on hand as well as former EPA head Carol Browner, now known officially as the "Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change".

Since SEVUS is setting up its assembly shop in an former TWA hanger at the Kansas City airport, the trucks for this deal were sent from Smith Electric in the UK, part of a consignment of 30. The Newton models are said to have a range of 100 miles with a top speed of 50 mph. The CEO of the American electric vehicle company, Bryan Hansel, also spent some time at the television studios of Fox Business where we did a great job representin' for his company and product. Hit the jump to see the video of that interview and the official press release.

First Next Generation All-Electric Commercial VehiclesDelivered on Capitol Hill to Fortune 500 Companies

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Staples, Frito-Lay, AT&T,and Kansas City Power & Light receive keys to new Smith NewtonJuly 28, 2009 – Washington D.C. – Four Fortune 500 companies and two utilitycompanies took delivery of the first in a series of next generation all-electric commercialvehicles in an automotive industry changing event hosted at the Capitol Reflecting Poolon the National Mall by Missouri Senator Kit Bond and attended by Carol M. Browner,Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change.Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Coca-Cola Enterprises, Staples, Frito-Lay,AT&T and Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) were presented with the keys to all newSmith Newtons, the world's largest commercially available battery-electric-poweredtruck. The Newton is the first commercial all-electric truck to achieve new vehicleemissions certification in California."The next generation electric vehicles Smith is producing demonstrates exactly the kindof technology we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and end our dependenceon foreign oil," Senator Bond said. "Missouri is a growing leader in exciting new batterytechnology making it an ideal partner for all-electric vehicle manufacturing.""AT&T, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Frito-Lay, KCP&L, PG&E and Staples aredemonstrating their commitment to environmental sustainability and green fleet vehicletechnologies that will drive the future of the automotive industry," said Bryan Hansel,CEO of Smith. "As more depot-based truck fleet operators come on board and adopt allelectricvehicles, battery technology will advance and manufacturing costs will be drivendown, spurring new growth in the commercial electric vehicle industry, creating newhigh-tech jobs, and reducing fuel emissions and our dependency on foreign oil."The Smith Newton is fuel-emissions-free, runs without noise or vibration, and actuallystores electric energy during stopping through a process called regenerative braking.The Smith Newton has a top speed of 50 mph, a range on one battery charge in excessof 100 miles and a payload of over 16,000 lbs.

Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. (Smith), a Delaware corporation headquartered in KansasCity, Mo., is a privately held company owned by Private Investors Management and TheTanfield Group Plc, based in the United Kingdom. Tanfield is the parent company ofSmith Electric Vehicles in the U.K., the leading manufacturer of zero-emissions batteryelectriccommercial vehicles in Europe since the 1920s.Smith Electric Vehicles has produced the Newton truck in Europe for more than threeyears and has sold vehicles to major fleet operators in sectors such as mail and parceldelivery, logistics, retail, highway maintenance and airports.Smith is initially focusing production on all-electric vehicles for depot-based predictableroutedelivery and service fleets, and is bringing a proven next generation electric-drivetechnology to the American marketplace. Smith vehicles will feature the latest inLithium-ion battery cell technology, power management and direct drivetrains. Smithhas licensed the proprietary knowledge from Smith Electric Vehicles in the U.K. and hasbrought it to its new production facility in Kansas City, where for the first time all-electrictrucks will be assembled and distributed by American workers.Smith Newton Truck Specifications:• Motor – 120 kw Induction Motor• Battery – Lithium-Ion Batteries Payload – 7,392 lbs to 16,280 lbs• Gross Vehicle Weight – 16,535 lbs, 23,148 lbs or 26,455 lbs• Range – In excess of 100 miles (one battery charge)• Top Speed – 50 mph• On-board Battery Charger• Full Battery Recharge – 6 to 8 hours

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About Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corporation: Smith Electric Vehicles U.S.Corporation (Smith) (www.sev-us.com), a Delaware corporation, is an all-electric zeroemissionscommercial truck manufacturer. The company licenses its proprietarytechnology from Smith Electric Vehicles in the U.K., the world's largest manufacturerand industry leader of commercial electric vehicles. Smith is a privately held companyowned by Private Investors Management, and the Tanfield Group Plc, based in theUnited Kingdom. Smith produces the Smith Newton – the world's largest batteryelectric-powered truck.About Tanfield Group Plc: The Tanfield Group Plc is the world's leading developerand manufacturer of road-going commercial electric vehicles and aerial work platforms.Tanfield is headquartered in Washington, Tyne & Wear, with operations in Europe,Scandinavia, North America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific and Africa. It has twomain divisions:12200 N.W. Ambassador DriveKansas City, MO 64163www.sev-us.com

Smith Electric Vehicles was founded in 1920 and acquired by Tanfield in October2004. Following its acquisition, Smith Electric Vehicles is developing into a world leaderin new technology electric vans and trucks with greatly enhanced performance, speedand range capabilities. This makes them attractive for all fleet operators in large towns,cities and closed industrial environments. For the first time, these fleet operators haveeconomically viable, zero emission alternatives to using diesel vans and trucks. SmithElectric Vehicles has an unrivalled UK-wide service and support network, which alreadymaintains over 5,000 vehicles for major fleet operators. www.smithelectricvehicles.comPowered Access contains two of the world's most established aerial work platformbrands, UpRight Powered Access and Snorkel International. UpRight is the UK'sbiggest manufacturer of self-propelled aerial work platforms (also known as "cherrypickers","mobile elevating work platforms", "aerial lifts", etc). UpRight has assemblyfacilities in the UK and USA, with products sold through a strong network of over 200independent, full-service distributors across Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East andAsia-Pacific regions. Snorkel, acquired in August 2007, has significant manufacturingcapabilities along with strong sales and distribution, in North America and Australia.Tanfield has successfully extended its powered access product range and is now one ofonly three "full line" aerial lift manufacturers to have a significant global footprint in boththe North America and EMEA regions, in what is a $7bn market. www.upright.com /www.snorkellift.com

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